Guide for moving webs or sheets



an m L. F. COOPER March 24, 1953 I iled April 6, 1949 March 24, 1953 F. COOPER 2,632,642

GUIDE FOR MOVING WEBS 0R SHEETS Filed April 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 U'IIHIHI HHII.

m. mlllmi I an FG0/PI" March 24, 1953 F. COOPER 2,532,642

GUIDE FOR MOVING WEBS OR SHEETS Filed April 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 L. F. COOPER GUIDE FOR MOVING WEBS OR SHEETS March 24, 1953 '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1949 fizmezziar 121a]? 6290 021 March 24, 1953 1.. F. COOPER 2,632,642

GUIDE FOR MOVING WEBS OR SHEETS Filed April 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 24, 1953 GUIDE FOR MOVING WEBS R SHEETS:

Lynn F. Cooper, Neenah, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gilbert & Nash Company, Menasha, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 6, 1949, Serial No. 85,927

12 Claims.

This invention relates to guides for moving webs or sheets of material and more particularly to a roll type of guide for a moving web wherein a fluid operated mechanism is utilized to obtain shifting of the guide roll.

Many devices havebeen proposed and have been used for maintaining a moving web of paper, regenerated cellulose, felt etc. which is being carried forwardly on a plurality of rolls from sliding side to side on the rolls.

or felt guides and most generally comprise a guide roll which is journaled on one side of the moving web in a swivel bearing suitably mounted on a. support and journaled on the other side of the web in a bearing housing which is adapted to be moved backwardly and forwardly in a direction parallel to the movement of the web so as to change the angular position of the roll with respect to the web and hence move the web a corrective distance one way or another in order to maintain the edge of the web or felt moving in substantially a straight line. Guides operating on this general principle were known quite early as shown in U. S. 711,139. This general principle may be applied for guiding webs whether the guide roll is serving as a feed roll of the material being guided, an end roll in an endless belt or simply as a guide roll having a controlling contact with a moving web at some point intermediate its path of travel. In many In paper manu-' facture such devices are known as wire guides provide a web or wire guide which will maintain the direction of a moving web with a greater degree of accuracy than has heretofore been possible. It is a further object to provide a guide with a sufficiently rapid response time to substantially reduce any hunting. It is still a further object of this invention to provide a guide capable of handling very long and heavy guide rolls with a high degree of sensitivity, and it is still a further object of this invention to provide a guide wherein a minimum of moving mechanical parts insures a minimum of error due to variations in wearing surfaces; and still another object to provide a guide in which the. movement of the guide roll is accomplished by the application of hydraulic pressures and it is yet a further object that the power for operating the guide be generated by the moving web which is being guided. 1

To accomplish the aforesaid objects, and other objects which will be apparent from the description of my invention, I provide a guide which comprises means for indicating lateral movement of the web or wire to be guided which indications are transferred to a valve mechanism which controls a source of high pressure fluid. The valve mechanism is adapted to direct the fluid to one or the other side of a double acting piston in order to effect shifting of the applications the guide roll functions at a point where the web is moving in a horizontal plane but the same principle is applicable for keeping a web moving in a vertical plane from shifting laterally so long as the guide roll has a controlling contact with the web. Furthermore essentially the same principles may be employed 1 by shiftingthe guide roll transversely, particularly where the guide roll is the feed roll.

In paper manufacture the present web or wire guides utilize a palm to contact the edge of the moving web and any. tendency for the web to shift laterally will cause a movement of the at one end in the guide. In my guide the high pressure hydraulic fluidis preferably supplied by a rotary hydraulic pump which is driven by the guide roll, hence, the hydraulic fluid pressure is independent of external demands.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the attached drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment. In the drawings like numerals have been used to refer to like parts in each of the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing my guide I view of the hydraulic valve taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the valve in an opposite position to that in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 88 of Figure 6 showing the valve position for moving the guide mechanism in one direction.

Figure 9 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 99 of Figure '7 showing the valve position for moving the guide mechanism in the opposite direction to that in.

Figure 8. I Figure is a view similar to FiguresS and 9 showing the position of the valvewhen the mechanism is in neutral position Referring to Figures 1 throughe myimproved guide I is shown in operative position with respect to a guide roll 2 over which is traveling a web or pellicle 3. The guide roll as is conventional is supported at one end (not shown) in a suitable rotatable bearing whereby the angular position of theguide' roll 2 may be changed by movement of my guide in a; direction'parallel to the travel of the web 3; The contact between the web and the" guide rol1'.is controlling contact whereby this change in angularity will effect lateral or sideways displacement of the web 3.

The guide comprises'ahousing' i which is rotatably mounted on a carriage or saddle 5. The

saddle is slideably supported on a frame 6' which in turn is mounted through suitable screws 1 and 8 directly to a paper machine or to some other permanent supporting surface 9'. The housing 4 is divided by a partition lll 'to provide a bearing section H and a hydraulic section [2.

Within the bearing section H is a suitable radial bearing l3 of the ball; bearing type in which is journaled a spindle l4 suitably coupled through a flange coupling I'5 to' the'guide roll 2. A s'ealing ring l6 seals the bearing. section against leakage and a retaining nut Il'is mounted on theend of the spindle I4 in order" to maintain the position of the spindle with respect to the bearing. The use of the flange coupling it permits rapid installation and repair without necessitating the tearing. down of the guide proper.

Also forming a part of the guide mechanism are means for indicating the lateral position of one edge of the web 3 which means comprises a palm which is pivotably mounted on the end of a bracket 2|. The bracket 2| is slid'eably supported on a second bracket 22 which in turn is mounted on the saddle 5 in slide 23. A. slideway 24 is provided in bracket 22 and a hand operated clamp 25 cooperates with the slideway to permit the extension or contraction of bracket 2land bracket 22.

To efieet pivotal mounting of the palm- 20- a shaft 26 is journaled in bearing 21 formed at the I upper end of bracket 2!. A collar 28 onthe upper end of the palm 20 is fixed to the shaft as by a press fit or a set screw. At the other end of the shaft is suitably fixed a crank 29 upon which is carried a weight 30. The weight 30 serves to urge the palm inwardly towards the web and hence maintain contact between the palm and the edge of the web at all times. The sensitivity of the palm may be varied by changing the position of the weight 30 along the crank 29. Movement of the palm 2B is transmitted through a system of linkages, including crank 29, rods 3! and 31a, bell crank 32, pivotably' mounted on the upper end of the bracket 22, rod 33, pivoted lever 34, and arm 35, to a valve 36. The arm 35 is fixed to the valve stem 31 by set screw whereby the valve stem is rotated by linear movement of the linkage system. Weight 38 and a clamp 39, joining rods 3i and 3m, provide the power for rotating the valve when the palm moves inwardly to follow the web or sheet.

Valve 36 serves to direct high pressure hydraulic fluid, issuing from a hydraulic pump 40 through discharge conduit 41. to the valve inlet 42, through either conduit 43, or M to one side or the other of a double acting piston 45, dependingupon the direction called for by the movement of the palm. The piston 45 moves in a cylinder 56" and is" carried upon a rod 6? which in turn is mounted on the bifurcated ends of arms 48and 49 forming a part of saddle 5.

The saddle 5 is supported on roller bearings 59 which are retained in a pair of parallel races 5! and 52 i A pair of side plates 53 and 5 3 secured to the. frame 6 by screws 55 form one side of each of the races. The: ends of the races are closed in part by felt lined plates 56 and El. The plates 53' and 54 each have an inwardly extending flange 58' and esrespectively' which overlie a portion of the saddle and thusserve to retain it in assembly with the frame .6.-

In order to obtain rotation of the housing d on the saddle so that changes in angularity of the guide roll will not: cause any binding or dis tortion within the bearing, thehousing is carried on a ball thrust bearingv 6Q set in. the upper face 6! of the saddle 5. A pilot 6'2 rotatably set in a holefifiin the saddle 5 and secured to the base of the housing by a screw 64 serves to hold the housing andthe saddle in alinement. The hole and pilotare formed with two diameters, so that the pilot also serves to retain the saddle and housing assembled. A sealing and dust ring 65 protects theball bearing ring.

The double acting piston 4'5 whereby movement of the saddle is efifected may be of any conventional type. The one shown comprises a main head i0 having apair ofleather washers H and 12 on each. side thereof. and retaining plates 73 and 74 next to the washers. The whole assembly is clamped between. a shoulder :5 formed on one halfof rod 4? and a flange 16 formed on another half. of rod 67. The two halves are threadedly coupled together at H. The opposite ends of rod 41 are secured in slots 18 and 19 in arms 48 and 49 by retaining pins 80. The cylinder 46 is closed at eachend by packing gland comprising gland: nut 81, packing B2, and packing pressure nut 83.

Referring now more specifically to the hydraulic mechanism of my guide, the hydraulic section ii of the housing t serves as a reservoir for the fluid, which is preferably oil. A drain plug and a vent plug EH are provided for draining and filling; The pump to is mounted within section i2 in the partition It and extends into the bearing section II of the housing. In this section the" rotor spindle or shaft 92' of the pump extends into a bore hole 93 in spindle Id and is keyed against rotation by key 96. Inlet 95 of the pump extends down near the bottom of the reservoir.

The fact that the pum is driven by the guide roll is one of the important features of my guide. In prior guides hydraulic pressure from a source outside the guide has been used, such as main water pressure, and in a plant the variations in this pressure would cause substantial variations in the response of the guide. In my guide the pressure of the pump is proportional to the speed of the guide roll hence the faster the web travels the faster is the corrective response of the guide.

This is obviously very desirable. A further-advantage of this feature of myguideis that it will always operate so long as the web is moving whereas in guides relying on external power, whether it'be hydraulic or electrical, the guide may be shut down while the paper machine continues to run.

I prefer, however, to limit the maximum pressure of the fluid to insure the best operation of my system at high speeds. This is accomplished by a pressure relief valve I66 connected to the conduit 4|. The relief or by-pass valve may be of the conventional type including a ball I6! and spring I02 retained in a bore hole I63 by an adjusting nut I64. Inlet I65 connects the valve to conduit II and outlet I66 discharges back to the reservoir. When the pressure in conduit 4| exceeds the compressive force of the spring as determined by the position of the adjusting nut, a portion of the oil is by-passed around the control valve 36 and returned to the reservoir.

The valve 36 comprises a cylindrical valve body H6, preferably of metal, connected to valve spindle 31 closely fitted within a casing or Well III. The body H is vertically supported by a ball bearing I I2 set in an enlarged part H3 of the well by means of a snap ring H4 on the spindle 31 which is pressed into the body H0. Retaining nut H5 holds the assembly in place. It should be noted that no packing is used in my valve thus insuring the maximum sensitivity. This is made possible by the structure of my valve to be described.

The valve body III] has two annular grooves I I6 and H1 therein forming a land or ridge H8 therebetween. There is an axial bore hole H5 extending from the bottom of the body upward to groove I I6. A radial port I26 connects groove H6 to bore H9. the well, but not necessarily so close as to prevent leakage between the outer surfaces of the valve body and the walls of the well III. Because of this the bottom of the well III extends below the body forming an outlet chamber I2I which is connected to the reservoir by conduit I22. Any leakage between the body HI] and walls will tend to run down into chamber I2I. If, however, due to the pressure of the fluid, it moves upwardly; itwill be trapped in groove I I6 and return to chamber I2! through port I26 and bore H9.

The body III] is positioned so that conduit 4| discharges into annular groove or chamber H1 thus the valve body is not subject to any directional pressure which would tend'to cause binding. 1

The annular groove H1 may-be brought into communication with conduit 43 and which lead to the piston 45 through ducts I25 and I26 and ports I21 and I28 respectively. (See Figures 6 and 7.) The ducts'are cut in the casing and the ports are drilled in the ridge H8 of valve body III]. A second pair of ports I29 and I36 drilled in the land H8 connect annular groove H6 with ducts I25 and I26 respectively. By

reference to Figures 8, 9, and it will be een that pair of ports I21 and I36, and pair of ports I28 and I29 are disposed diametrically oppositely about the periphery of the land H8. It will further be noted thatports I21 and I29, and I26 and [36 are radially set only a few degrees apart. Preferably they are spaced just far enough to permit a portion of the land between them to shut off the ducts I25 and I26, this position The valve body fits closely in to limit the arm 35.

Because the palm may move through a far greater distance than that represented by the movement of the crank between the stops, I provide in link 33, a safety device I31 which will absorb movement of the palm without trans- 'mitting that movement to the valve. This device simply comprises a housing I38 in which is placed a compression spring I35. One part of link 33 is secured to the housing by a set screw I50 and the other end of link 33 acts as a plunger I41 within the housing. This plunger is held in the housing by nut I42 and is adapted to push against the spring in one direction to effect movement of the valve until arm 35 reaches stop I36 and then further movement of the palm will only serve to compress the springthus protecting the valve. 1

In the operation of my guide the web 2 passes over the guide roll 3 and rotates the same, the web being driven by other rolls not shown. Rotation of the roll 2 in turn rotates spindle 92 of the pump 46 whereby a source of fluid under high pressure is generated. If the web is traveling in a straight line the palm 26 will not move and the linkages adjusted so that valve 36 will be in the neutral position shown in Figure 10. In this neutral position the outlet from the pump in conduit M will flow into annular chamber or groove I I1 and when this is filled the balance of the flow will pass through the relief or bypass valve Hlfl. When the web shifts laterally in a direction away from the guide the palm will move inwardly under the influence of weight 36 which in turn will cause a rotation of the valve 36 to the position shown in Figures 6 and 8. In this position oil from groove H1 will pass upwardly through port I21 and out through duct I25 and conduit 43 into the cylinder 4-6. Oil in the opposite side of the cylinder will be forced upwardly through conduit 44 and through duct I26 and port I36 in the valve 36 into annular groove I I6. From this groove H6 the oil will be discharged back to the reservoir through port I26 and bore hole H9 leading to conduit I22. This pressure on the piston 45 will cause movement of the piston and hence the saddle 5. Since housing 4 is mounted on the saddle, it will move in a straight path" which in turn will give an angular position to the guide roll sufficient to cause the moving web to return back to its proper position.

It is an important feature of this invention that the oil returning to the valve'36'is under approximately the same pressure as the oil entering the valve hence the valve is under a balanced pressure. Furthermore the entering oil as well as the returnin oil are both supplied to If the web 2 shifts in the opposite direction causing the palm to move rearwardly then the valve will be turnedto the position shown in Figures 7 and 9 and the piston will be driven in the opposite direction in the manner described above to apply correction.

The above described guide is capable of controlling a Web travellingat any commercial'speed with smooth continuous action. The guide may be used in a paper machine which operates at speeds of 250 feet per minute to as high as 3000 feet per minute without adjustment except for a possible change in the setting of the pressure relief valve. This performance is unheard of with mechanical guides now being used. It is necessary in these guides to change gear ratios when making any substantial change in machine speed.

Many other modifications of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art, as. for example the use of other fluids such as air or other gas instead of liquids, as oil or water, or the shifting of the roll support vertically, or transversely of the web, hence no limitations are intended by the above described specific example except such as are contained in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus adapted to laterally shift a moving web by movement of a guide roll comprising a spindle for said guide roll, a bearing for said spindle, a housing for said bearing, a frame, means slideably supporting said housing on said frame, a double acting piston in a cylinder connected to said housing, a rotary hydraulic pump mounted in said housing, means coupling the shaft of said pump to said spindle, a reservoir in said housing, a valve, conduits connecting said valve to said pump and to each side of said piston, means for operating said valve in response to a lateral shift in said web whereby fluid may be directed from said pump to one side of said piston, and means in said valve for returning fluid on the other side of said piston from said cylinder to said reservoir.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve comprises a casing, a valve body rotatably supported in said casing, a valve inlet, a valve outlet, ducts in said casing connected to said conduits leading to said piston, ports in said valve body adapted to connect said valve inlet to said ducts, ports in said valve body adapted to connect said valve outlet to said ducts, a spindle connected to said valve body, and wherein said means for operating said valve in response to a lateral shift in said web rotates said spindle whereby said inlet is brought into communication with one or more of said ducts, and said outlet is'brought into communication with the other of said ducts.

3.. In combination, means for moving a web of material, a guide roll, means for rotatably supporting said guide roll at its ends in contact with the web whereby movement of the web rotates said guide roll, means for shifting one of said roll support means including a fluid motor, and a fluid pump, means whereby rotation of said guide roll drives said pump, and means under control of said web for controllin the fluid flow from said pump to said motor whereby said guide roll support is shifted so that said guide roll acts as a guide.

4. In combination, means for moving a Web of material, a guide roll, means for rotatably supporting said guide roll at its ends in contact with the web whereby movement of the web rotates said guide roll, means for shifting one of said roll support means including a fluid motor and a fluid pump means connecting said pump and said guide roll whereby said pump is driven by rotation of said guide roll, and means responsive to lateral shifting of said web for controlling the fluid flow from said pump to said motor whereby said guide roll support is, shifted so that said guide roll acts as a guide.

5. In combination, means for moving a web of material, a guide roll, means for supporting said guide roll at its ends in contact with the web whereby movement of the web rotates said guide roll, means for shifting one of said roll support means including a rotary hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, means connecting said pump and said guide roll whereby said pump is driven by rotation of said guide roll and means responsive to lateral shiftingof said web for controlling the liquid flow from said pump to said motor whereby said guide roll support is shifted so that said guide roll acts as a guide.

6. In combination, means for moving a web of material, a guide roll, means for rotatably supporting said guide roll at its ends in contact with the web whereby movement of the web rotates said guide roll, said means at one end including a frame, a housing slideably mounted on said frame, a bearing mounted in said housing and a spindle mounted on said roll and journaled in said bearing, means for shifting said housing relative to said frame including a fluid pump mounted in said housing and a fluid motor, means connecting said pump and said spindle whereby said pump is driven by rotation of said guide roll and means responsive to lateral shiftingof said web for controlling the fluid flow from said pump to said motor whereby said guide roll support is shifted so that said guide roll acts as a guide.

'I. combination, means for moving a web of material, a guide roll, means for rotatably supporting said guide roll at its ends in contact with the'web whereby movement of the web rotates said guide roll, said means at one end including a frame, a housing slideably mounted on said frame, a bearin mounted in said housing and a spindle mounted on said roll and journaled in said bearing, means for shifting said housing relative to said frame including a rotary fluid pump mounted in said housing and a fluid motor mounted in said frame, means connecting the shaft of said pump and said spindle whereby said pump is driven by rotation of said guide roll, and means responsive to lateral shifting of said web for controlling the fluid flow from said pump to said motor including a palm and a fluid valve between said pump and said motor operable by sa1d palm whereby said guide roll support is shifted so that said guide r011 acts as a guide.

8. In combination, means for moving a web of material, a guide roll, means for rotatably supporting said guide roll at its ends in contact with the web whereby movement of the web rotates said guide roll, said means at one end including a frame, a housing slideably mounted on said frame, a bearing mounted in said housing and a sp ndle mounted on said roll and journaled in sa d bearing, means for shifting said housing rclat1ve to said frame including a rotary hydraulic pump mounted in said housing and a double actmg hydraulic piston mounted in said frame and connected to said housing, means connecting said pump and said spindle whereby said pump in driven by rotation of said guide roll and means responsive to lateral shifting of said web includmg valve means for directing high pressure fluid from sa1d pump to one or the other side of said piston whereby said guide roll support is shifted so that said guide r011 acts as a guide.

9. In combination, means for moving a web of material, a guide roll, means for rotatably sunportmg Said guide roll at its ends in contact with the web whereby movement of the web rotates said guide roll, said means at one end including a frame, a housing slideably mounted on said frame, a bearing mounted in said housing and a spindle mounted on said roll and journaled in said bearing, means for shifting said housing relative to said frame including a rotary hydraulic pump mounted in said housing and a hydraulic double acting piston mounted in said frame and connected to said housing, means coupling said pump and said spindle whereby said pump is driven by rotation of said guide roll and means responsive to lateral shifting of said web including a valve for directing liquid from said pump to one or the other side of said piston whereby said guide roll support is shifted so that said guide roll acts as a guide.

10. An apparatus adapted to support and laterally, shift at least one end of a guide roll in contact with a moving web in response to a lateral shift of the web whereby said guide roll acts as a guide comprising a frame, a housing slideably supported on said frame, a bearing in said housing for receiving an end of the guide roll, a fluid motor in said frame connected to said housing, a rotary fluid pump mounted in said housing, means for coupling the shaft of said pump to the guide roll, and means for directing fluid from said pump to said motor in response to a lateral shift in said web.

11. An apparatus adapted to laterally shift a moving web by movement of a guide roll comprising a spindle for said guide roll, a bearing for said spindle, a housing for said bearing, a frame, means slideably supporting said housing on said frame, a piston in a cylinder in said frame connected to said housing, a rotary hydraulic pump mounted in said housing, means coupling the shaft of said pump to said spindle, valve means connecting said pump to said cylinder,

means for operating said valve means in response to a lateral shift in said web whereby fluid may be directed from said pump to said cylinder.

12. An apparatus adapted to support and laterally shift at least one end of a guide roll in contact with a moving web in response to a lateral shift of the web whereby said guide roll acts as a guide comprising a housing, a frame, means slideably supporting said housing on said frame, a bearing in said housing for receiving an end. of the guide roll, a fluid motor in said frame connected to said housing, said motor comprising a piston movable in a cylinder, a rotary fluid pump mounted in said housing, means for coupling the shaft of said pump to said guide roll, a reservoir in said housing, a valve, conduits connecting said valve to said pump and to said cylinder, means for operating said valve in response to a lateral shift in said web whereby fluid may be directed from said pump to one side of said piston, and means in said valve for returningfluid on the other side of said piston from said cylinder to said reservoir.

LYNN F. COOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,066,687 Warren July 8, 1913 1,140,299 Conradson May 18, 1915 1,339,826 Hunter May 11, 1920 2,082,634 Johnstone June 1, 1937 2,256,963 Schmidt Sept. 23, 1941 2,303,533 Ferm Dec. 1, 1942 2,439,251 Hornbostel Apr. 6, 1948 2,488,294 Hornbostel Nov. 15, 1949 

